The 2024 LinkBuds series consists of three new products: LinkBuds Open, LinkBuds Fit, and LinkBuds Speaker Sony will also discontinue the Headphones Connect app in favor of the new Sound Connect app, which will feature a simpler UI and additional user-enjoyable features

LinkBuds Fit takes over the Sony LinkBuds S of yesteryear and utilizes ANC and automatic optimization with a newly redesigned dynamic driver X and integrated processor Meanwhile, Sony's new LinkBuds Open continues its in-ear innovation with an 8-hour battery life and rich bass from the new V2 integrated processor and new ring driver

Sony's 2024 LinkBuds lineup is available for pre-sale today and will officially launch later this month The new LinkBuds speaker is $179 and the LinkBuds Fit and Open are $199, only $20 more than the Bose QuietComfort earphones

Sony's LinkBuds Open may look strange at first glance, but they look pretty good The new LinkBuds have a rounded design, with a loop attached to the bottom that fits into the earhole for added stability

After using them a bit over the past few days, I admit I was skeptical, but I found that they work quite well, at least in terms of comfort At first I was worried that they would fall out of my ears like the Nothing Ear(a) and Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, but I found that they actually fit well and stayed in my ears while running

Like the newly released Nothing Ear (open), Sony's new LinkBuds Open are built with an open ear design This is intended to allow runners and athletes to get a better sense of what's going on, even when listening to heavy metal or bass-heavy hip-hop, and with the new and improved ring drivers, it should work

Sony claims that the Open is louder than the previous model, but honestly, I had to turn the music up to full volume to hear anything accurately I don't know if this is just my bad ears, but the aforementioned Nothing Ear (open) did not require as much volume Thankfully, the general performance of the Sony Buds was otherwise adequate

Battery life is a vast improvement over the previous product, which lasted 55 hours with the case on and 175 hours with the case off Now, the new Sony LinkBuds Open last up to 8 hours and a whopping 22 hours with the case on, about the same as the Nothing Ear (open) and below the 85 battery life of the QuietComfort earphones

A little more testing is needed to find out more about how they stack up against not only their rivals of yesteryear, but also against several alternative models currently on the market We'll bring you a review in Tom's Guide later this month to see if Sony's LinkBuds Open is among the best wireless earbuds

But in addition to the LinkBuds Open, Sony's LinkBuds S also made a comeback as the LinkBuds Fit These feature Auto Optimization Noise Cancellation (ANC streamlining) for unrivaled pocket-sized performance In addition, Sony has updated and improved the Ambient Sound and Auto Tuning features

The Open has improved battery performance with a refreshed design, but these are a notch down from the 6 hours offered by the LinkBuds S to just 55 hours At least the battery life of the case has been improved, going from 20 hours in the previous model to 21 hours

Multi-device connectivity is back, and LinkBuds Fit offers higher quality sound and a more stable connection thanks to the new dynamic driver x and V2 processor The smaller design and shorter ear tips should also fit more comfortably in the ear for both white-hot workouts and light city walking

The entire LinkBuds lineup is IPX4 rated, providing ample protection against sweat and rain However, it is not the same level of protection as the IP54 rating of the Nothing Ear, so it may not save you if you are completely submerged in water

What also stands out about the refreshed LinkBuds is the new coloring, such as the Olivia Rodrigo recommended violet color for both Fit and Open, and a series of accessories to help users refine their earphones and cases, bringing style to the lineup This is Sony's new goal Sony's new LinkBuds series will be available in the LinkBuds Fit and LinkBuds Open for $199 and the new LinkBuds Speaker for $179 They can be pre-ordered at Sony stores or at select retailers